A man nearly killed by his eight-bottle-a-day Lucozade habit has finally kicked his 30-year addiction - and lost two stone.
Garry Johnson, 66, suffered a stroke, had to have an electrical heart device and went temporarily blind in one eye. Doctors told him he'd need to quit his £150 a month habit, to save his heart from further damage - but Garry said that was harder than ditching class A drugs.
The retired decorator from Basildon, Essex, finally managed it through sheer determination. And since December he has lost more than two stone - and feels healthier and happier. The grandfather-of-two said: "When I went to get my heart device fitted, the nurses and doctors weren't impressed with me.
"I cut out alcohol, fatty food and dairy but kept drinking the Lucozade - they told me I was scoring own goals. In December I started cutting down to one bottle a fortnight, just the odd one. Six weeks ago, I stopped altogether - and it's a good feeling.
Garry said Lucozade was harder to give up than class A drugs (SWNS)"I feel the improvement in my body, I feel lighter on my feet, and I can play with my grandkids without getting tired. I look and feel so much better." Garry began drinking coffee aged 12 and loved the caffeine buzz. He then dabbled with drugs in his teens and twenties.
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But after his first son was born in 1992 he moved onto energy drinks to keep him energised - his favourite being Lucozade Original. Until last year, he swore he'd never give it up - despite having three heart attacks between 2012 and 2014. But in August 2023 he ended up in Basildon University Hospital after losing vision in one eye and getting pains in his neck and chest down one side.
Calling it a 'mini stroke', doctors warned him his veins were narrowing due to how much sugar he was consuming - and would be at risk of a big stroke if he didn't quit. Luckily Garry's vision returned and he stabilised, but medics warned without his medications, it could have been far more serious.
The main issue they warned of was narrowing or "furring" of the veins which take blood to Garry's heart. Garry, a single dad-of-three, said: "Doctors took my blood and said my sugar levels were off the scale - I hadn't drank any more on that day than usual. I thought it would be ok to keep drinking it because I did everything else they told me to - I cut out alcohol, fatty foods and dairy - but the issue was the sugar in all the Lucozade."
He's now lost two stone as a result (Garry Johnson/SWNS)He had an electrical device called a implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted in November last year. It sends electrical pulses to regulate abnormal heart rhythms, especially those that could be dangerous. After then, he knew he had to take it seriously - and began cutting down on the fizzy drink over the following weeks and months.
At first he got severe cravings but over time he got used to it, and continued cutting down until it was only "the odd one". Six weeks ago, he had his final bottle - and hasn't touched one since. And he's feeling the effects - as well as being 2st 6lbs lighter. Garry said: "I've saved so much money too - I've spent it buying presents for my grandchildren.
"People notice the weight loss and comment on it all the time - my face is smaller and you can see my jawbone more. I'm very happy now." He added: "I do get cravings still but they don't get the better of me.
"If I pop to the shop I leave the shop without buying any and it reminds me that I haven't weakened - it's a good feeling. And I've stopped for long enough now that I don't think I'll ever go back."
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